Shetland sheep have changed my life and touched my heart. They have brought me joy, adventure and serenity. Follow along as I live each day influenced by memories of my mighty flock of mini sheep ~ aided and abetted by "Bellamica", the English Shepherd,"Sable", my livestock guardian dog and "Hero" the rescue dog that stole my heart! You'll also meet many of the homeless dogs that I rescue and rehome as part of Bluff Country Canine Rescue.

Saturday, February 09, 2008

Oh, good GRIEF....

*as always, click on any image to enlarge for detail

This is getting ridiculous!

I almost can't believe that it's snowing and blowing again.

The sheep don't seem all that thrilled with it either!

According to the National Weather Service:

"TEMPERATURES WILL CONTINUE TO FALLOVERNIGHT AND WIND CHILLS WILL AVERAGE 35 TO 45 BELOW ZERO AFTERMIDNIGHT. EXPOSED SKIN CAN FREEZE IN AS LITTLE AS 10 MINUTES WITHWIND CHILLS THIS COLD. A WIND CHILL WARNING MEANS THE COMBINATION OF VERY COLD AIR ANDSTRONG WINDS WILL CREATE DANGEROUSLY LOW WIND CHILL VALUES. THISWILL RESULT IN FROST BITE AND LEAD TO HYPOTHERMIA OR DEATH IFPRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN."

I am so sorry to have sent our weather your way...IF it's the same system we had a while back...we've had so many of them I can't keep up any more.My sheep are so tired of being in the barn. I don't think they remember what actual grass and ground are. Just be careful with those wind chills and your skin, Nancy...I thought I was breaking out until I realized that the red spots on my face were from frostbite. Take care and stay warm!

We are over 30' now with no end in sight. My husband had to dig a trench around the fence because Gabby walked over it today. I feel for you! Thankfully, you have a lovely barn and I'm sure that's a blessing.

I am so grateful to have my new barn! I would not have been able to winter over this many ewes with just the little barn that I previously used for my ewe barn. It's way too small for 15 girls. Works perfectly for 3 rams and 3 goats though. ;-)

I never shut any of the sheep in the barn. They all have free access and can come and go as they please. They are OUT of the barn much more than they are in it. But it's nice to have a dry place, out of the wind, in which to feed them!

I'm so afraid of coyotes and mountain lions that I lock everyone up at night. We often fire off warning shots at the coyotes because they are moving closer. My neighbor has lost lambs to the coyotes, mountain lions and bears despite the efforts of her guard dog to keep them back. One of her dogs was pretty chewed up by a bear awhile back. You are lucky if you don't have predators lurking. Thankfully, we don't have to worry about the bears for awhile.

In south central Indiana, we haven't had much snow this winter. Send some of yours down here,(but I'll pass on the nasty sub-zero temps!) I feel deprived of winter when it doesn't snow. And I am sure you everyone in snowland is thinking "Are you crazy?!" Stay warm everyone. Oh dear sacred sheep & wool to keep us warm.Diane/Bloomington,Indiana